Compare towns
Bar Harbor vs Dedham vs Freeport vs Ogunquit
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bar Harbor has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Freeport has the most affordable homes ($508k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Bar Harbor | Dedham | Freeport | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,244 |
25,237Highest |
8,802 |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.9 26% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Freeport and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,180±$26kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$107,326±$19k 33% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $538,400±$94k 62% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$508,400±$76kLowest 53% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$351Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,279Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$5,042 62% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.6%±17.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #2 of 133 in ME | #119 of 282 in MA | #4 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD | Dedham | RSU 05 | — |
| High school in town | Mt Desert Island High School | Dedham High | Freeport High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.2Lowest |
10.4 |
12.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.